Combination lock safety cap

ABSTRACT

The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is directed to a combination lock safety cap for containers that are particularly designated for receiving materials such as drugs or chemicals which are detrimental to human life, and which drugs and chemicals are to be prevented from getting into the hands of small children. The combination lock safety cap is of a particular arrangement as to allow only the particular person knowing the arrangement or combination of the components of the safety cap to open the container which utilizes such caps. The container which receives the combination cap of this invention includes a neck portion formed on the container to function as an access opening for filling and removing material from the container. Radially outwardly directed tab means is formed about the exterior periphery of the neck portion, said tab means generally including four quadrant located, discrete tabs about the neck portion. A closure assembly is fashioned to fit over the neck portion and includes a plurality of rotatable lock rings held in position between a cap and retaining ring so as to freely rotate within the cap. Each of the locking rings is located radially inwardly of an integral peripheral depending flange portion associated with the cap and includes an outwardly directed tab which fits through a slot formed in the flange portion. When all of the radially outwardly directed tab portions of the locking rings are placed in alignment, or placed in predetermined locations with respect to indicia formed about the cap, a corresponding plurality of notches are aligned and placed in registry with the radially outwardly directed tabs of the neck portion to allow the closure structure to be lifted and removed from the container.

United States Patent 1191 Meyer 51 Oct. 22, 1974 COMBINATION LOCK SAFETYCAP [76] Inventor: Karl A. Meyer, 171 N. Atlantic Ave; Apt. 27, CocoaBeach, Fla. 32931 221 Filed: July 5,1973

2: Appl. No.: 376,900

Primary Examiner-William 1. Price Assistant Examiner-R6 E. Hart [57]ABSTRACT The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is directed toa combination lock safety cap for contain-- ers that are particularlydesignated for receiving materials such as drugs or chemicals which aredetrimental to human life, and which drugs and chemicals are to beprevented from gettinginto the hands of small children. The combinationlock safety cap is of a particular arrangement as to allow only theparticular person knowing the arrangement or combination of thecomponents of the safety cap to open the container which utilizes suchcaps. The container which receives the combination cap of this inventionincludes a neck portion formed on the container to function as an accessopening for filling and removing material from the container. Radiallyoutwardly directed tab means is formed about the exterior periphery ofthe neck portion, said tab means generally including four quadrantlocated, discrete tabs about the neck portion. A closure assembly isfashioned to fit over the neck portion and includes a plurality ofrotatable lock rings held in position between a cap and retaining ringso as to freely rotate within the cap. Each of the locking rings islocated radially inwardly of an integral peripheral depending flangeportion associated with the cap and includes an outwardly directed tabwhich fits through a slot formed in the flange portion. When all of theradially outwardly directed tab portions of the locking rings are placedin alignment, or placed in predetermined locations with respect toindicia formed about the cap, a corresponding plurality of notches arealigned and placed in registry with the radially outwardly directed tabsof the neck portion to allow the closure structure to be lifted andremoved from the container.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures COMBINATION LOCK SAFETY CAP BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to newand useful improvements in safety closures for containers and, morespecifically, for a closure cap for containers where the contents may bedrugs or chemicals and where it is desired to prevent children fromremoving the caps to prevent the removal of such drugs or chemicals. Thedevice is of such construction and arrangement as only one with relativeadult knowledge can manipulate the components of the device to removethe closure structure from the container to gain access to the drugs orchemicals within the container.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore devices of such constructionwhich provide relative difficulty for entering or gaining access tocontainers wherein dangerous drugs or chemicals are confined providerelative difficulty to persons who are authorized or intended to gainaccess to such containers. These prior art containers are relativelydifficult to operate in that they either require substantial amounts offorce to be exerted upon the closure structure, or they requiresignificant amount of dexterity or ingenuity on the part of the user tofigure out the particular combination required to remove the closurestructure. It has generally been accepted in the previous state of theart that a safety closure device is required to prevent children fromgaining access to containers having harmful material therein. However,it is not an accepted rule, when providing such safety closures, toprevent the elderly or persons of physical disability from gainingaccess to such closures to self administer medicines which may beproscribed by physicians.

Heretofore, such prior art safety closures have been so complicated anddifficult to operate so as to preclude persons, particularly those inthe senior citizen class, from opening the closure to gain access totheir required medication.

For example, one prior art type of safety locking closure provides acylindrical neck having an anular rim adjacent the base thereof andwherein radially outwardly directed flanges are required to be pressedor manipulated as the cap was turned to facilitate removal. Thisrequired a relative amount of physical strength for depressing of theoutwardly directed flanges and therefore was an inefficient type ofclosure for elderly and extremely weak and sickly patients.

Another type of combination locking closure for medical or chemicalcontainers included a plurality of rings associated with the cap, eachof the rings including a plurality of radially inwardly directed tabportions to be aligned with a single elongated notch or slot formedalong a plurality of grooves in the neck portion of the container. Eachof the rings may be provided with a plurality of numbers or lettersabout the periphery thereof. Alignment of these rings would allow theuser to open the container. However, this type of closure required thatthe person clearly observe the relative position of the rings, andfurthermore these rings are relatively difficult to manipulate in thatthey have substantially the same diameter as the exterior portion of thecap associated therewith.

Accordingly, it is a primary featureof this invention to overcome theobvious disadvantages and difficulties associated with prior artcombination lock safety caps associated with chemical or drug compoundswhich are to be restricted from children. Particularly, the inventiondisclosed herein is directed to an improved combination lock safety capstructure which enables the user thereof quickly and easily to removethe closure structure from the container without need of specialdexterity or visual observation of the relative position of a pluralityof locking rings.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a plurality ofrotatable lock rings having radially outwardly directed tab portions tobe manually manipulat'ed by the user thereof to align the tabsexteriorly of the closure structure thereby aligning associated notchesat the interior of the structure to enable removal of the closurestructure from its associated container.

Briefly, the principle on which this cap structure is based calls forthe alignment of a set of slots or notches in a predetermined pattern sothat specially positioned locking tabs can pass through the notches inan unobstructed manner. This is accomplished through the use of at leastthree individual locking rings, with each of these locking rings beingequipped with a series of notches. These rings are incorporated into thecontainer or cap. The position of these rings can be varied by movementof a protruding tab section. The locking ring is attached to thecontainer at a position just below the rim, and this ring has a numberof tabs extending radially outwardly from its'surface. When the lockingcap is in its normal locked position the tabs of the container areplaced into the locking ring and because the slots do not correspond tothe positions of the tabs, the container is effectively locked. It canbe opened only if the proper alignment of the three individual lockingrings is obtained. In order to facilitate this alignment process, a setof numbers is imprinted on the cap portion of the closure structure, andthe appropriate position for unlocking the closure structure may beprinted or otherwise indicated on the cap structure. Therefore onlypersons who can read or understand indicia bearing information canintelligently understand the number designations on the cap and alignthe exterior tabs to effect removal of the closure structure. In thismanner, once the numerical combination corresponding to the appropriateslot position is known, the container can be quickly and easily removed.Because it allows for a level of safety not formerly obtainable in priorart structures the combination lock safety cap of this invention maywell be adapted for use on many different types of containers whereintamper proof characteristics for children are required.

Many other features and advantages of this invention will be more fullyrealized and understood from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like referencenumerals throughout the various views of the drawings are intended todesignate similar elements or components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective fragmentaryview of a container closure and neck portion of a container illustratingthe unique combination of elements of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the plurality ofdiscrete components associated with the construction of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the neck portion of a container illustrating therelative alignment of one of the locking rings associated with theclosure structure; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along Line 4-4 of FIG. 3illustrating the position of the radially outwardly directed tab portionof the locking rings through the slot formed in the flange of the cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring nowparticularly to FIG. 1 there is seen a container closure structuredesignated generally by reference numeral which is constructed inaccordance with the principles of this invention. The container closurestructure 10 includes a specially configurated neck portion of acontainer to which the closure structure is to be associated with, saidneck portion being designated generally by reference numeral 12. Theneck portion formed on the container includes a plurality of radiallyoutwardly directed tab means 14 formed about the exterior periphery ofthe neck portion, and positioned at predetermined arcuate displacementsrelative to one another. In the preferred embodiment the radiallyoutwardly directed tab means are located in respective differentquadrants 90 from one another about the periphery of the neck portion.However, it will be understood that other arcuate configurations of thetab may be incorporated. For example, one, two, or three tab means maybe located about the periphery of the neck portion and which tab meansmay be spaced apart, when three, four or more such tab means areincorporated at different arcuate distance from one another. Also, eachtab may have a different radial extent than the other tabs.

The closure structure 10 includes a closure assembly 15 fashioned firmlyto fit the neck portion 12 of the container and prevent the drug orchemical material from being removed from the container by smallchildren or other persons not intended to or capable of manipulating thecombination of the closure structure. The closure assembly. includes acap portion 16 to fit over the neck portion and form a seal about themouth 18 of the neck portion 12. This is best illustrated in FIG. 4which shows the mouth 18 firmly abuting the undersurface of the cap 16to form the seal mentioned.

An integral peripheral, depending flange portion 20 is associated withthe cap 16 and has a diameter and configuration freely to fit over theradially outwardly directed tab means 14 associated with the neckportion 12. This allows the closure assembly freely to fit over, and beremoved from, the container by authorized personnel. A retaining ring 22is secured to the integral peripheral, depending flange portion 20 andforms a confining portion 16 and the flange. In the illustratedembodiment the retaining ring 22 is secured to the depending flangeportion 20 by means of a snap ridge and recess combination designatedgenerally by reference numeral 24. However, it will be understood thatother suitable conventional connection means may be incorporated, as forexample, adhesives, set screws or the like. Furthermore, it will beunderstood that the retaining ring 22 may be threaded into a threadedreceptacle portion of the depending flange 20.

Associated with the retaining ring 22 isa first notch means 26 which, inturn, is arranged for substantial complete alignment with the associatedradially outwardly directed tabs 14, as best illustrated in FIG. 3. Whenthe notches 26 are pointed to be in registry with the tabs 14 the capstructure can be placed on and removed from the container, if it werenot for additional locking means associated with the cap structure,which locking means are to be further described hereinbelow.

Referring now particularly to the exploded view of FIG. 2, a pluralityof axially displaced and aligned locking rings 30, 32, and 34 are shownpositioned between the cap 16 and the retaining ring 22, each of thelocking rings includes associated notch means, referred to in the claimsas second notch means, and designated generally by associated referencenumerals with the suffix letter (a). For example, locking ring 30includes four notches 30a while the locking ring 32 includes fournotches 32a, and the locking ring 34 includes four notches 34a. Thenotches 30a, 32a, and 34a associated with the rotatable locking rings30, 32, and 34, respectively, are oriented arcuately about the innerperiphery of the locking rings to conform substantially to the arcuatedisplacement of the notches 26 of the retaining ring 22. Therefore whenthe notches 30a, 32a, and 34a are placed in substantial alignment withthe notches 26 of the retaining ring 22 the entire enclosure structure15 can be removed from the container.

To facilitate ease of alignment of the three locking rings 30, 32 and 34there is provided radially outwardly directed positioning tab means 40,42, and 44, respectively associated with the locking rings 30, 32 and34. The tab positioning devices can be located in any one of a pluralityof different arcuately displaced arrangements to afford the desiredamount of difficulty to open the container. For example, indicia bearingmeans 46 may be located about the periphery of the depending flange 40and placed above a corresponding slot 48 through which the tab means 40,42, and 44 extend. By aligning the tabs one with the other, and with oneof the desired indicia bearing characters about the slot, the notches ofthe locking rings and the retaining ring can be aligned with the tabs onthe neck of the container to facilitate removal of the cap structure.Furthermore, the invention disclosed herein incorporates means formed onthe top of the cap 16, such as the numbers 2, 3, 6 on top of thecontainer to give an indication to the user as to where to locate thefirst, second and third of the tabs with respect to the indicia bearinginformation about the slot when these tabs are not to be aligned withone another. When all of the tabs 40, 42, and 44 are to be aligned withone another a single number may be located on top of the cap 16, as in 4in FIG. 1, to indicate where the tabs are to be aligned in the slot.

While several specific embodiments of the present invention have beendisclosed herein with relative particularity and detail, it will beunderstood that variations and modifications of the invention may beincorporated without departing from the spirit and scope as intended bythe inventor. For example, variations as to size, shape, color andconfiguration may be effected without departing from the spirit andscope of the novel concepts of the claims as set forth hereinbelow.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. A containerclosure structure and container used in conjunction therewith,comprising:

a container for receiving a given quantity of material to be restrictedfrom use by small children;

a neck portion formed on said container to function as an access openingfor filling said container and for removing said material therethrough;

radially outwardly directed tab means formed about the exteriorperiphery of said neck portion;

a closure assembly fashioned firmly to fit said neck portion to seal thecontainer and prevent said material from being removed from saidcontainer, said closure assembly including;

a cap to fit over said neck portion and form a seal about the mouth ofsaid neck portion;

an integral peripheral depending flange portion associated with saidcap, said integral peripheral depending flange portion having adimension and configuration freely to fit over said radially outwardlydirected tab means of said neck portion;

a retainer means formed about the inner peripheral portion of saidintegral peripheral depending flange portion, said retainer meansextending inwardly a distance to underly said tab means of said neckportion when said closure assembly is in position on said container;

first notch means formed on said retaining means, said first notch meansbeing sized and configurated to accept said tab means when said closureassembly is positioned over said neck portion;

locking means associated with said closure assembly, said locking meansbeing movably secured between said cap and said retaining means;

second notch means formed in said locking means,

said second notch means being sized and configurated to accept tab meanswhen said closure assembly is positioned over said neck portion; and

positioning means associated with said locking means to enable manualrelative movement of said locking means with respect to said retainingmeans and said cap means, to allow alignment of said first and secondnotch means of said retaining means and said locking means,respectively, for easy application and removal of said closure assemblyfrom said neck portion, whereby misalignment of said first and secondnotch means prevents inadvertent removal of said closure assembly fromsaid neck portion.

2. In the container closure structure and container as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said radially outwardly directed tab means formed aboutthe exterior periphery of said neck portion are located at a givendistance below the mouth opening of said neck portion.

3. In the container closure structure and container as set forth inclaim 2 wherein said radially outwardly directed tab means includes aplurality of discrete tabs extending radially outwardly of saidneckportion, each of said discrete tabs having an extent different thanother ones of said discrete tabs.

4. In the container closure structure and container as set forth inclaim 3, wherein said plurality of discrete tabs are four in number andeach located substantially at right angles to one another.

5. In the container closure structure and container as set forth inclaim 4 wherein said neck portion formed on said container is round inconfiguration, said radially outwardly directed tab means being formedat different quadrant locations about said round neck portion, andwherein said cap is round in configuration and said locking meansincludes locking ring means associated therewith rotatably to movewithin said cap to align its associated notch means with said tabs forremoval of said closure structure.

6. In the container closure structure and container as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said locking means includes a rotatably secured lockingring means positioned be tween said cap and said retaining flange, saidretaining flange being circular in configuration to fit about a circularconfigurated neck portion, and wherein said locking means is rotated toalign said notch means with said tabs for removal of the closurestructure.

7. In the container closure structure and container as set forth inclaim 6 wherein said locking ring means includes a plurality ofindependent axially displaced locking rings, each of said locking ringsincluding notches to be aligned with said tab means to facilitateremoval of said closure structure from said neck portion.

" 8. In the container closure structure and container as set forth inclaim 7 further including positioning means associated with each one ofsaid plurality of independent locking rings, said positioning meansincluding radially outwardly directed tab portions to be aligned onewith another to give a visual indication at exteriorof said closurestructure that the interior radially disposed notches are aligned toaccept said radially outwardly tab portions of said neck portion forremoval of said closure structure.

9. In the container closure structure and container as set forth inclaim 8 further including a slot formed in said flange depending fromsaid cap, said slot having an arcuate extent about the periphery of saidcap to limit the arcuate travel of said radially outwardly directed tabportions associated with said plurality of locking means. I

10. In the container closure structure and container as set forth inclaim 9 further including indicia bearing portions associated with saidslot about the periphery of said cap so as to enable the user of saidcontainer closure structure and container visually to align saidradially outwardly directed tabs of said locking means, and thenposition said aligned radially outwardly directed tab portions inregistry with one of said indicia bearing means so as to providealignment of the said associated notches of said locking means with theradially outwardly directed tabs of said neck portion to facilitateremoval of said closure structure from said neck portion.

1. A container closure structure and container used in conjunctiontherewith, comprising: a container for receiving a given quantity ofmaterial to be restRicted from use by small children; a neck portionformed on said container to function as an access opening for fillingsaid container and for removing said material therethrough; radiallyoutwardly directed tab means formed about the exterior periphery of saidneck portion; a closure assembly fashioned firmly to fit said neckportion to seal the container and prevent said material from beingremoved from said container, said closure assembly including; a cap tofit over said neck portion and form a seal about the mouth of said neckportion; an integral peripheral depending flange portion associated withsaid cap, said integral peripheral depending flange portion having adimension and configuration freely to fit over said radially outwardlydirected tab means of said neck portion; a retainer means formed aboutthe inner peripheral portion of said integral peripheral dependingflange portion, said retainer means extending inwardly a distance tounderly said tab means of said neck portion when said closure assemblyis in position on said container; first notch means formed on saidretaining means, said first notch means being sized and configurated toaccept said tab means when said closure assembly is positioned over saidneck portion; locking means associated with said closure assembly, saidlocking means being movably secured between said cap and said retainingmeans; second notch means formed in said locking means, said secondnotch means being sized and configurated to accept tab means when saidclosure assembly is positioned over said neck portion; and positioningmeans associated with said locking means to enable manual relativemovement of said locking means with respect to said retaining means andsaid cap means, to allow alignment of said first and second notch meansof said retaining means and said locking means, respectively, for easyapplication and removal of said closure assembly from said neck portion,whereby misalignment of said first and second notch means preventsinadvertent removal of said closure assembly from said neck portion. 2.In the container closure structure and container as set forth in claim 1wherein said radially outwardly directed tab means formed about theexterior periphery of said neck portion are located at a given distancebelow the mouth opening of said neck portion.
 3. In the containerclosure structure and container as set forth in claim 2 wherein saidradially outwardly directed tab means includes a plurality of discretetabs extending radially outwardly of said neck portion, each of saiddiscrete tabs having an extent different than other ones of saiddiscrete tabs.
 4. In the container closure structure and container asset forth in claim 3, wherein said plurality of discrete tabs are fourin number and each located substantially at right angles to one another.5. In the container closure structure and container as set forth inclaim 4 wherein said neck portion formed on said container is round inconfiguration, said radially outwardly directed tab means being formedat different quadrant locations about said round neck portion, andwherein said cap is round in configuration and said locking meansincludes locking ring means associated therewith rotatably to movewithin said cap to align its associated notch means with said tabs forremoval of said closure structure.
 6. In the container closure structureand container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said locking meansincludes a rotatably secured locking ring means positioned between saidcap and said retaining flange, said retaining flange being circular inconfiguration to fit about a circular configurated neck portion, andwherein said locking means is rotated to align said notch means withsaid tabs for removal of the closure structure.
 7. In the containerclosure structure and container as set forth in claim 6 wherein saidlocking ring means includes a plurality of independent axially displacedlocking rings, each oF said locking rings including notches to bealigned with said tab means to facilitate removal of said closurestructure from said neck portion.
 8. In the container closure structureand container as set forth in claim 7 further including positioningmeans associated with each one of said plurality of independent lockingrings, said positioning means including radially outwardly directed tabportions to be aligned one with another to give a visual indication atexterior of said closure structure that the interior radially disposednotches are aligned to accept said radially outwardly tab portions ofsaid neck portion for removal of said closure structure.
 9. In thecontainer closure structure and container as set forth in claim 8further including a slot formed in said flange depending from said cap,said slot having an arcuate extent about the periphery of said cap tolimit the arcuate travel of said radially outwardly directed tabportions associated with said plurality of locking means.
 10. In thecontainer closure structure and container as set forth in claim 9further including indicia bearing portions associated with said slotabout the periphery of said cap so as to enable the user of saidcontainer closure structure and container visually to align saidradially outwardly directed tabs of said locking means, and thenposition said aligned radially outwardly directed tab portions inregistry with one of said indicia bearing means so as to providealignment of the said associated notches of said locking means with theradially outwardly directed tabs of said neck portion to facilitateremoval of said closure structure from said neck portion.